CHD AND TIPS FOR PREVENTING AND LOWERING THE RISKS

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) 
CAUSES
Coronary heart disease is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries to your heart. This may also be called hardening of the arteries.

• Fatty material and other substances form a plaque build-up on the walls of your coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to your heart.
• This buildup causes the arteries to get narrow.
• As a result, blood flow to the heart can slow down or stop.

 SYMPTOMS

Chest pain or discomfort (angina) is the most common symptom. You feel this pain when the heart is not getting enough blood or oxygen. How bad the pain is varies from person to person.

• It may feel heavy or like someone is squeezing your heart. You may feel it under your breast bone (sternum), but also in your neck, arms, stomach, or upper back.
• The pain usually occurs with activity or emotion, and goes away with rest or a medicine called nitroglycerin.
• Other symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue with activity (exertion).

TIPS FOR PREVENTING CORONARY HEART DISEASE

*Aviod or reduce stress as best as you can
*Don't smoke
*Eat well-balanced meals that are low in fat and cholesterol and include several daily servings of fruits and vegetables
*Get regular exercise. if your weight is considered normal get at least 30minutes of exercise everyday. If you are overweight or obese, experts say you should get 60-90minutes of exercise everyday.
*Keep your blood pressure, blodd sugar and cholesterol under control.
       Moderate amount of alcohol (1 glass a day for a woman and 2 glass for men) MAY reduce your risk of cardiovascular problems. however, DRINKING LARGER AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL DOES MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
     If you have one or more risk factors for coronary heart disease, talk to your doctor about possibly taking aspirin a day to heo\lp prevent a heart attack or stroke. Low dose of aspirin therapy may be prescirbed if the benefit is likely to outweigh the risk of gastrointestinal side effect.
   New guidelines no longer recommend hormone replacement therapy, Vitamins E or C, antioxidants, or folic acid to prevent heart disease.
Always visit your doctor!!..